Not disappointed so much, but it wasn't among the top episodes of the season. Hence the problem w/ half-seasons. Packed a shitload of plot into 60 minutes to keep appetites whetted for next year. Still good, but not the knockout greatness I was hoping for I guess. The bar is so high it's almost unfair to the show.

Not disappointed so much, but it wasn't among the top episodes of the season. Hence the problem w/ half-seasons. Packed a shitload of plot into 60 minutes to keep appetites whetted for next year. Still good, but not the knockout greatness I was hoping for I guess. The bar is so high it's almost unfair to the show.

What of the cold open then? Don't know if that's a hairpiece he's wearing but Walt looked OK for a dying man, and that scene was set a good deal in the future. Nor do I want to see Walt go out through something as prosaic as cancer.

What of the cold open then? Don't know if that's a hairpiece he's wearing but Walt looked OK for a dying man, and that scene was set a good deal in the future. Nor do I want to see Walt go out through something as prosaic as cancer.

I like how he came in with a bookbag like he's Walt's student. All the "sir" stuff, too.

I like how he came in with a bookbag like he's Walt's student. All the "sir" stuff, too.

No shame. She's gorgeous, just a little…intense.

No shame. She's gorgeous, just a little…intense.

I'm cautiously optimistic about TWD. or at least I'm not completely dreading them fucking up the excellent prison arc from the comics. I did get a bit of a tingle tonight when AMC aired the teaser w/ the gang scoping the prison.

I'm cautiously optimistic about TWD. or at least I'm not completely dreading them fucking up the excellent prison arc from the comics. I did get a bit of a tingle tonight when AMC aired the teaser w/ the gang scoping the prison.

Mike's death seemed to seriously shake  him, "necessary" or not. He did keep on w/ the Czech deal to grow that pile of money, so perhaps seeing that finally drove the point home that there's nothing else for him to prove. I think the cancer could be back, too, but the season's cold open seems to belie that…

Mike's death seemed to seriously shake  him, "necessary" or not. He did keep on w/ the Czech deal to grow that pile of money, so perhaps seeing that finally drove the point home that there's nothing else for him to prove. I think the cancer could be back, too, but the season's cold open seems to belie that…

Thinking about that cold open, is the gun even meant for Walt to use? Now Walt did gun down two thugs for Jesse but how is he going to handle a Rambo death machine like that? Something doesn't jibe and BB is all about screwing w/ our perceptions.

Thinking about that cold open, is the gun even meant for Walt to use? Now Walt did gun down two thugs for Jesse but how is he going to handle a Rambo death machine like that? Something doesn't jibe and BB is all about screwing w/ our perceptions.

Funny how this felt like a more cerebral "cool down" episode after last week, even w/ the montage of 10 grisly murders.

Funny how this felt like a more cerebral "cool down" episode after last week, even w/ the montage of 10 grisly murders.

What's the episode that was flashed back to at the end? "Shotgun" or "Bullet Points." I love that scene and want to watch it again.

What's the episode that was flashed back to at the end? "Shotgun" or "Bullet Points." I love that scene and want to watch it again.

For a second, I did, but it was set up for the viewer to think that making it too obvious for BB. Maybe a snake in the bag ala Kill Bill.

For a second, I did, but it was set up for the viewer to think that making it too obvious for BB. Maybe a snake in the bag ala Kill Bill.